Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is close to launching its four-star Virgin Hotel brand in New York and is actively scouring the city for locations, Side Dish has learned.

The hotels will be neighborhood-centric, the UK billionaire adventurer told The Post by e-mail.

“Our Virgin Hotels team is exploring a variety of options and applications in New York City,” Branson said.

“We love the energy of big market areas like Times Square but we equally love distinct neighborhoods with real communities — SoHo and the Meatpacking District, for example — where Virgin would be a perfect fit.”

While Branson would not reveal where he has looked so far, sources told Side Dish that Branson had considered 200 Lafayette St., between Broome and Spring streets, but while Branson loved the neighborhood, the space was too small to create an “efficient” hotel.

Branson also considered Brooklyn’s iconic Clock Tower, in Dumbo.

“The idea is to have guests feel like they are part of a neighborhood, to enjoy an authentic experience of New York life,” a source said.

Branson is also considering lower Manhattan.

The financial district has “reasonably priced and ample office space and more families and locals moving in.

“If only there were more neighborhood restaurants to keep the locals there on the weekends. Sounds like a new project for us,” Branson said.

Virgin Hotels will also likely pop up in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Las Vegas.

“Our airlines’ destinations are all perfect for Virgin Hotels and where my team is looking for sites and partners.

“We are very lucky in that our airlines enjoy incredible loyalty,” he said.